South Korea’s Main Opposition Party Taps Former Party Chief as Presidential Candidate
SEOUL, South Korea—Lee Jae-myung, a liberal who wants greater economic parity in South Korea and warmer ties with North Korea, became the main opposition party’s presidential candidate Sunday, solidifying his position as front-runner to succeed recently ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The former Democratic Party chief had led the opposition-controlled parliament’s impeachment of Yoon over the imposition of martial law in December. The country’s Constitutional Court formally dismissed Yoon earlier this month, prompting a snap presidential election on June 3 to find a new president.
In a nationally televised announcement, the Democratic Party announced Lee won its presidential nomination with nearly 90 percent of the votes cast during the primary that ended Sunday, defeating two competitors.
“Now, the people and our party colleagues gave me an opportunity to win back presidency and build a new, real Republic of Korea. Thank you! I’ll humbly uphold that ardent, serious order,” Lee said in a victory speech, as his supporters shouted his name.
Lee, 60, who served as the governor of South Korea’s most populous Gyeonggi province and a mayor of Seongnam city, is the clear favorite to win the election.
In a Gallup Korea poll released Friday, 38 percent of respondents chose Lee as their preferred choice, while all other aspirants obtained single-digit ratings. The main conservative People Power Party is to nominate its candidate next weekend. Its four presidential hopefuls competing to win the party ticket won a combined 23 percent of support ratings in the Gallup survey.
Anti-Corruption Crusader or Populist?
Lee has long established an image as an anti-establishment figure who can eliminate deep-rooted inequality and corruption in South Korea. But his critics view him as a populist who relies on stoking divisions and demonizing opponents and worry his rule would likely further polarize the country.
Lee currently faces five trials for corruption and other criminal charges. If he becomes president, those trials will likely stop as he will enjoy special presidential immunity from most criminal charges.
Lee’s rise comes as conservatives are struggling to win back public confidence in the wake of Yoon’s martial law decree that plunged the country into turmoil. The People Power Party is grappling with internal feuding between senior members defending Yoon’s action and reformist members who voted for his impeachment.
Focus on Economy
Lee made headlines by livestreaming his climbing over the walls of the National Assembly after Yoon issued his martial law decree, as troops encircled the building. Lee and other lawmakers eventually managed to vote down Yoon’s decree, forcing him to lift it within six hours of its declaration.
Lee has recently made few comments that could be portrayed as too radical and has focused on economic growth, supporting small businesses and easing economic polarization.
“We’ve become richer but the reason why people think things are scarce is that (wealth) is concentrated. The so-called polarization and disparity have become so widen,” Lee said in a recent video message announcing his campaign.
Lee said last week that South Korea should make a fresh start to improve ties with North Korea, saying “for us, peace is an issue of existence and prosperity.” In an earlier online talks show, Lee said he thinks the United States would pursue better ties with North Korea as a way to contain China and that such a stance would provide South Korea with diplomatic room to restore ties with the North.
